How can the deeds of a person be free from Riya'?

"As-Salaamu 'Alaykum. How can the deeds of a person be free from Riya' (showing-off), and (what) if a person believes that this action of his is Riya' (showing-off) or the Shaythaan whispers to him?

Answer:

"My brother, Riya' (showing-off) is from the huge calamities, because it conflicts with sincerity (Ikhlaas) towards Allah. Allah, Exalted is He, says:

{So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.} [Surah Al-Kahf 18:110]

Ikhlaas (sincerity) and Riya'(showing-off) are two things which are in the heart. Allah knows what is in your heart. So if you carry out righteous actions (but) intend therewith that the people praise, commend and extol you and you don't seek the Countenance of Allah; you will be among the losers.

(Allah says:)

{Whosoever desires (with his deeds) the reward of the Hereafter, We give him increase in his reward, and whosoever desires the reward of this world (with his deeds), We give him thereof (what is written for him), and he has no portion in the Hereafter.} [Surah Ash-Shura 42:20]

And He (Allah) also says:

{Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter; to them We shall pay in full (the wages of) their deeds therein, and they will have no diminution therein. They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire; and vain are the deeds they did therein. And of no effect is that which they used to do.} [Surah Hud 11:15-16]

Some of the Salaf (righteous predecessors)[1] said: "Leaving off deeds because of the people is (a form of) Riya' (showing-off) and carrying out deeds because of the people is (a form of) Shirk (polytheism), and Ikhlaas (sincerity) is that Allah safeguards you from both of them."

And thus, oh my brother, beware of doubt and having bad thoughts; do your actions purely for Allah alone, seek Allah's Countenance and the abode of the Hereafter, and don't care about if the people praise or dispraise you. Be sincere towards Allah with regards to what is between you and Him and beware of succumbing to the whisperings of the Shaytaan, so that he says to you: "You are showing off." No, you are sincere, if Allah wills. Be steadfast. And that he (the Shaytaan) may know from your heart that reason for you doing acts of worship is to obey Allah, the Majestic and Exalted, and that there is no share for anyone (else than Allah) in them (i.e.these acts of worships). Allah the Majestic and Exalted says (in a Hadeeth Qudsi):

"I am so self-sufficient that I am in no need of having an associate. Thus he who does an action for someone else’s sake as well as Mine will have that action renounced by Me to him whom he associated with Me."[2] and in a wording: "Then I am indeed free from him."[3]

Footnotes by translator:[1] Like Al-Fudhayl Ibn 'Iyad, may Allah have mercy upon him, as reported by Imam Al-Bayhaqee in Ash-Shu'ab.[2] Related by Muslim in his Saheeh.[3] Ibn Maajah.

The Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh, may Allah preserve him